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How to Find Fashion Jobs

Fashion Job Sources

After you have studied at your choice of fashion design schools, most fashion entrepreneurs would advise you to find an internship or a full-time fashion position in order to gain several years of experience before launching your own modest clothing label. Or, if you find a company that you like, you may be able to stay and contribute toward modest design with an established fashion house. New York City offers the largest concentration of fashion design jobs in the United States and is an ideal place to find work in the fashion industry. Los Angeles is a second choice, though manufacturing jobs dominate the apparel scene there compared to New York's claim to more of the design and style development jobs. Europe's design studios are concentrated in London and Paris, and other countries have their own concentrations of fashion companies, usually in major cities.

Your Favorite Fashion Company - Some big employers advertise jobs only on their own corporate sites, so check out your favorite companies individually.

Style Careers advertises as "the largest, fashion-only job listing site on the internet" and includes listings that may not be in Women's Wear Daily, especially for California companies.

Women’s Wear Daily is a prime location for fashion job listings. Also realize that a print or online subscription to WWD will give you a job hunt advantage by keeping you current on fashion industry news. Daily headlines and select articles can be accessed for free.

Fashion Staffing Agencies - Apply to employment agencies well in advance, and focus on those that cater to the fashion industry. Although some agencies may work more quickly, many take 2 to 6 weeks to respond, then weeks or months more before contacting you with an actual job opening. Remember that employment agencies are a last resort, and other job hunting strategies probably have greater chances of locating your desired position. Fashion agencies that do the most advertising do not necessarily have the best reputations for their services, so apply to several at once to allow for comparison and listen to word-of-mouth recommendations for staffing agencies. Depending on just one agency limits your potential for finding the type of job and salary you seek.

Gruen Search at Gruen Search negotiates fashion job opportunities in multiple states and would therefore be a good option for someone seeking work outside of New York.

Ralph Lauren - This name circulates among industry insiders as being one of the best employers in New York for many reasons. J. Crew has a similar reputation. Congratulations if you can join a company with a great reputation. Everyone wants to work for companies like these, so your competition will be high.

Ask Co-Workers - Many job leads in New York will come from people who are already working there. Ask around for referrals.

Job Fairs - Most New York fashion job fairs require job seekers to have at least two years of industry experience, checked at the door on your resume. Once you are eligible, these fairs can be a way to become acquainted with both large and small employers in New York, including companies in neighboring states such as Ohio (Limited Brands), Pennsylvania (QVC), and outside of Manhattan (Eileen Fisher). Hundreds of applicants flood hiring representatives at job fairs, so don’t plan a special trip to New York just to attend a job fair. Applying individually to specific companies is just as effective. If you are already in New York, however, and have never attended a fashion job fair, it will be worth your time and may get you an easy interview or two.

Fashion Salaries

The best way to find out what you are worth at a given time is to interview with an array of companies to see what they offer you. The following estimates should be taken as a general guide. Earnings will vary based on the company, individual, job responsibilities, and shifting economic environment. In New York, where most fashion jobs are located, fashion interns are rarely paid. Fashion graduates, at the lowest end, may be offered jobs in the $40,000 range, which may not be enough to cover even the most economical of lifestyles in New York because of the high cost of living. With two years of experience, you can hope to be making in the $50,000 to $60,000 range, a more realistic amount for covering basic living expenses, though you may need to change jobs to achieve the raise. With three to five years of experience, salaries continue to rise, depending upon the position. Designers make less, patternmakers earn more, and technical designers see strong earning potential due to huge demand for them in the industry. Salaries in New York are higher than in other areas of the United States but not always enough to compensate for the cost of living. You may eventually find, after gaining experience in New York, that moving away to start your own business or to work for a company in a less crowded city is a positive decision for quality of life and net income.

Be Constantly Prepared for a Job Change

New York City's fashion industry and the creative people who work in it can be volatile. Companies go out of business without warning or downsize if they have had a meager season. As a fashion worker, you may encounter situations that are dangerous to your physical or emotional health, with excessive overtime or supervisors who take out anger on employees without cause. These types of situations may sound extreme, but they are more common in fashion than in many other fields of employment. When you find yourself in a harmful situation that you cannot change, it is time to switch jobs. Having your eye consistently on the job market will keep you prepared. Finding a new job may take months, so confirm a new position first, then give two weeks’ notice to your old employer unless some risk requires you to leave more quickly. Screen potential jobs by asking about overtime and why the position has been vacated. Ask other employees, if possible, how they like working for the company. Regularly working 50 to 60 hours or more a week is a concern, as is a high rate of employee turnover, an indication that employees have been mistreated or underpaid. Companies that stage time-intensive runway shows are notorious for putting workers on average salaries and then expecting many days’ worth of extra labor with no overtime pay. Long commutes added to long hours added to stressful work environments will eventually break down health. Better jobs do exist. Find one.